Caeleb Dressel established two new American records at the SEC Championships and is now preparing for the NCAA Finals. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA)
Gators sophomore Caeleb Dressel a Rising Star
Monday, February 29, 2016 | Men's Swimming & Diving, Scott Carter
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The UF standout has emerged as a contender to make the U.S. Olympic Team
By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Claire McCool sounds tired on the telephone. The veteran math teacher spent the previous day undergoing her latest round of chemotherapy for breast cancer.
Since her diagnosis a few months ago, McCool has been able to continue to teach her classes on a reduced schedule at Clay High School in Green Cove Springs, about an hour's drive from the University of Florida campus.
The small community on the St. Johns River is probably best known locally as home to Gustafson's Farm, a brand of milk commonly found in grocery stores around the state. It's also the birthplace of the late Charles E. Merrill, whom you may have heard of as the co-founder of the investment banking giant Merrill Lynch.
But neither milk nor finances has been the hot topic around town of late. Instead, Gators sophomore swimmer Caeleb Dressel is what people are talking about.
"It's kind of unbelievable,'' said McCool, whose voice perks up when discussing Dressel's recent performance. "It's just 'wow.' We're so happy for him."
The defending NCAA champion in the 50-yard freestyle, Dressel elevated his stature in his hometown and international swimming circles with his performance at the SEC Championships in Missouri.
Dressel helped the UF men's team claim its fourth consecutive conference title by winning three individual crowns and setting American records in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles. The 19-year-old Dressel also established a new conference record in the 100-yard butterfly, firmly marking his place as one of America's most promising young swimmers with the Rio Olympics on the calendar this summer.
Meanwhile, back in Green Cove Springs where Dressel and his three siblings were raised by their parents, Christina and Michael Dressel, the folks have a little extra pep in their step.
"It's a small place,'' Clay High Athletic Director Jay Stilianou said. "If you blink you are going to miss it. He's just pumped a breath of fresh air into the community."
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The story of Dressel's record-breaking performance at the SEC Finals earlier this month wasn't without a hometown connection.
Dressel first met McCool as a freshman in high school when he was in her geometry class. The two formed a close bond, especially during Dressel's senior year after he emerged as one of the top prep swimmers in the country.
Dressel was traveling a lot to compete in major events, missing out on certain aspects of high school and spending a lot of time away from family and friends. He also had to work overtime to maintain his schoolwork with college beckoning.
As Dressel tried to figure things out like most teenagers do at some point, he stopped swimming for several months despite his enormous potential in the sport. He often visited with McCool in her classroom to talk about his concerns.
"She's amazing,'' Dressel said. "She just has such good life advice. She's just a nice lady. I absolutely love that woman."
All four of the Dressel kids had McCool as a teacher in high school. Christina considers her a close family friend, one everyone is pulling for to beat cancer the way McCool has pulled for her students at Clay High the last 20 years.
"If you ever get a chance to meet Mrs. McCool, you'll see what Caeleb is talking about,'' Christina said. "Everybody has a gift, and she truly, honestly cares for kids. She just saw the bigger picture. It didn't matter to her how much he traveled or how much he missed, she was always there to help him get caught up." UF sophomore Caeleb Dressel in action. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA) Prior to his record-breaking win in the 50-free at the SEC meet, Dressel texted a photo to McCool to lift her spirits. At first she thought it was just a picture to say hi from the meet. She discovered it was more when she took a second look.
"I didn't have my glasses on,'' McCool said. "I looked at the picture a little while later with my glasses on, and I said, 'Oh my gosh, that's my name on his face.' I cried."
Dressel often competes with his favorite Bible verse – Isaiah 43:1 – written underneath his eye. To honor McCool during her fight against breast cancer, he opted to write her name on the right side of his face and stamp a pink ribbon on the left side.
Dressel's tribute to his former math teacher became a story during the meet. Back at Clay High, McCool shared in the revelry of Dressel's success by using him as an example to her current students. She continues to teach Monday through Wednesday before taking the rest of the week off to undergo chemotherapy on Thursdays and allow her body to recover in time for the start of classes the following week.
She takes comfort in knowing Dressel is a long way from those uncertain days about his future as a swimmer.
"He just went through sort a period of withdrawal when he wasn't really interested in going into the water,'' McCool said. "He's come back with a vengeance. A true vengeance. He is just a real special kid.
"I love him like one of my own. His family has been very generous to let me in a little bit of that inner circle that they have."
*****
Dressel started swimming when he was 4. Like many kids, he tested his interest and ability in several sports, finally deciding at 12 to focus on swimming instead of soccer. A natural athlete, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Dressel can dunk a basketball and outrun would-be tacklers in flag football.
He developed a myriad of interests growing up, spending many days outside with his siblings. They roamed the family's 60-acre plot of land in Green Cove Springs. To this day, Dressel returns often and enjoys shooting his bow and arrow, taking target practice on the firing range, riding horses and more than anything, having fun and forgetting about swimming.
But when it's time to hit the pool, Dressel gets serious.
"Caeleb Dressel has come so far since he's come here,'' Gators head coach Gregg Troy said. "His times have had unbelievable improvements. He's just a natural born leader -- people gravitate toward that and he brings everyone in the right direction."
Dressel opted to stay close to home and attend Florida mostly due to Troy. He watched the U.S. National Team in the 2012 London Olympics, coached by Troy, and envisioned one day making the Olympic Team.
He figured by coming to UF he could only get better and perhaps have that opportunity.
"It definitely came down to Coach Troy and what he had to offer,'' Dressel said. "It's working out alright."
Since dominating the headlines at the SEC meet, Dressel has returned to his normal practice routine in preparation for the NCAA Championships on March 23-26. After that he will aim toward the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha in late June to see if he can earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team.
Dressel understands the road ahead, which includes testing himself against competitors more experienced on the world-class stage. A few years ago, as expectations began to grow while he was in high school, Dressel felt overwhelmed by the sport and the fans who were ready to label him as the future.
He has a different outlook today with the biggest stretch of his career on the horizon.
"I've just learned to relax and kind of not get too stressed,'' he said. "The [SEC] meet's over. The times are said and done with. I'm already back training, so it's time to refocus and keep on track with what the other goals are."
Those talks with McCool still ring in his ears.
When she was first diagnosed with breast cancer, she didn't tell Dressel right away.
"She thought it would be distracting,'' he said. "She's a tough woman. I don't think anybody can break her."
For her part, McCool says the same about her former student. She may sound tired on the telephone, but her words about Dressel are full of life.
"I've never known anyone to work harder than he does in his sport,'' she said. "I'm so excited for him. He looks at it like a gift from God. He doesn't take it for granted."
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